interactive satellite maps
Google Earth allows you to view global imagery and other geographic information right on your desktop. Just type in the address or location, and watch the interactive 3D navigate to that location, zooming in to street level (you can actually see cars on the street). Along with the detailed satellite images, you can pan and zoom, mark locations, and activate layers that show points of interests like banks, schools, restaurants shopping areas and much more. In addition to the standard satellite view, Google Earth also includes a tilt feature that allows you to render the map in a realistic 3D perspective that shows elevations levels. Additional features include on-screen measuring, emailing and printing of map views, personal places and more. The latest version also allows you to explore stars, constellations, galaxies and more.
Copyright Snapfiles.com

Google Earth is no doubt the king when you want information on our Globla Earth... It even has the added customized maps of a country to enhance information that you're looking for! (One of the examples is North Korea where it will show missile sites launch details which were contributed by independent Photographers and People that just take the time to provide this kind of info! This is downloaded into GEarth as an added map option and what a great feature it is!) However if you have a Notebook with no dual or quad-core capabilities or older processors Google Earth isn't gonna work as fast as you'd think... Takes a long time to use it and it's always freezing! And that's frustrating! Even on a dual-core Intel processor with 4 Gb memory Google Earth wasn't that good at the performance level... Bummer! Google should make a "Lite" version with fewer map "show tourism & whatever" options A way to get around this heavy resource consumption is to download the Google Earth plug-in for your browser! It's a winner but should have a light version!
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Recommend to a friend? Yes

Posted Mar 05, 2013 for v7.0.3.8452

Missing a lot of countries' details by timoti
Mar 12, 2011

Pretty nice as long as you are only interested in certain countries.
I've looked up streets in locations that I have been only to find missing detail..
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Doesn't ask, just installs the Chrome browser. Doesn't hurt anything, but I didn't need or want another browser. Google Earth itself is one of the reasons the internet is so great. Be sure to check out the available "layers" filled with information that you can add and delete as needed. Google could help with more information on what resources are available, but seeing what's there is a fun way to spend an hour.
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